Lestodon fossil map
Where fossils of Lestodon have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 0 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 0 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early mammals |
|---|---|
| Lived | 11.63 million years ago to the present (Tortonian to Holocene) |
| Periods | Neogene, Quaternary |
| Family | Mylodontidae |
| Named by | Gervais 1855 |
| Fossil records | 104 occurrences at 47 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Paraguay, Venezuela |
| Rock formations | txn:43629, Lujan, Dolores, Salto Ander Egg, Tarija, Monte Hermoso |
About Lestodon
Lestodon is an extinct genus of giant ground sloth native to South America during the Pleistocene epoch. Its fossil remains have primarily been found in the Pampas and adjacent regions. The largest member of the family Mylodontidae, It is estimated to have weighed 4,100 kilograms (4.5 short tons). It was a herbivore and primarily fed on the grasses and low-growing plants.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Lestodon (revision 1373799942), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q604501.
